As was suggested in my Facebook post three days ago, November 9th would be the date when THE BEATLES self-titled album, commonly known as “White Album” thanks to its absence of external artwork, is to see a 50th anniversary reissue. Ad was the case with “Sgt. Pepper” which was re-released last year, there’s a plethora of previously unavailable – although mostly known to bootleg collectors – pieces, but remastered stereo mix isn’t part of the celebration package: it’s been replaced with Giles Martin and Sam Okell’s remix, with the original mono version to be located on a super deluxe box’s Blu-ray, and yes, no DVD option here. The box contains 6CDs, while other formats are: 3 CDs or 4 LPs with stereo remix and Esher Demos, and 2 LPs with the remix. Of course, a mandatory book is also in the box, together with the reproduction of the 1968’s edition’s collage poster and four individual Beatles’ photos.
So here’s what’s in in detail:
White Album –
50th Anniversary Box
CD 1 & 2 – 2018 Stereo Mix
CD 3 – Esher Demos:
1. Back In The U.S.S.R.
2. Dear Prudence
3. Glass Onion
4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
5. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
6. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
7. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
8. I’m So Tired
9. Blackbird
10. Piggies
11. Rocky Raccoon
12. Julia
13. Yer Blues
14. Mother Nature’s Son
15. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
16. Sexy Sadie
17. Revolution
18. Honey Pie
19. Cry Baby Cry
20. Sour Milk Sea
21. Junk
22. Child Of Nature
23. Circles
24. Mean Mr. Mustard
25. Polythene Pam
26. Not Guilty
27. What’s The New Mary Jane
CD 4 – Sessions:
1. Revolution I (take 18)
2. A Beginning (take 4) / Don’t Pass Me By (take 7)
3. Blackbird (take 28)
4. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey (unnumbered rehearsal)
5. Good Night (unnumbered rehearsal)
6. Good Night (take 10 with a guitar part from take 5)
7. Good Night (take 22)
8. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (take 3)
9. Revolution (unnumbered rehearsal)
10. Revolution (take 14 – instrumental backing track)
11. Cry Baby Cry (unnumbered rehearsal)
12. Helter Skelter (first version – take 2)
CD 5 – Sessions:
1. Sexy Sadie (take 3)
2. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (acoustic version – take 2)
3. Hey Jude (take 1)
4. St. Louis Blues (studio jam)
5. Not Guilty (take 102)
6. mother nature’s son (take 15)
7. Yer Blues (take 5 with guide vocal)
8. What’s The New Mary Jane (take 1)
9. Rocky Raccoon (take 8)
10. Back In The U.S.S.R. (take 5 – instrumental backing track)
11. Dear Prudence (vocal, guitar & drums)
12. Let It Be (unnumbered rehearsal)
13. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (third version – take 27)
14. (You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care (studio jam)
15. Helter Skelter (second version – take 17)
16. Glass Onion (take 10)
CD 6 – Sessions:
1. I Will (take 13)
2. Blue Moon (studio jam)
3. I Will (take 29)
4. Step Inside Love (studio jam)
5. Los Paranoias (studio jam)
6. Can You take Me Back? (take 1)
7. Birthday (take 2 – instrumental backing track)
8. Piggies (take 12 – instrumental backing track)
9. Happiness Is A Warm Gun (take 19)
10. Honey Pie (instrumental backing track)
11. Savoy Truffle (instrumental backing track)
12. Martha My Dear (without brass and strings)
13. Long, Long, Long (take 44)
14. I’m So Tired (take 7)
15. I’m So Tired (take 14)
16. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill (take 2)
17. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? (take 5)
18. Julia (two rehearsals)
19. The Inner Light (take 6 – instrumental backing track)
20. Lady Madonna (take 2 – piano and drums)
21. Lady Madonna (backing vocals from take 3)
22. Across The Universe (take 6)
Blu-Ray:
* PCM Stereo (2018 stereo mix)
* DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (2018)
* Dolby True HD 5.1 (2018)
* Mono (2018 direct transfer of original mono mix)
